Luke knows his I´nupiaq name is full of sounds white people can’t say. He knows he’ll have to leave it behind when he and his brothers are sent to boarding school hundreds of miles from their Arctic village.

At Sacred Heart School things are different. Instead of family, there are students—Eskimo, Indian, White—who line up on different sides of the cafeteria like there’s some kind of war going on. And instead of comforting words like tutu and maktak, there’s English. Speaking I´nupiaq—or any native language—is forbidden. And Father Mullen, whose fury is like a force of nature, is ready to slap down those who disobey.

Luke struggles to survive at Sacred Heart. But he’s not the only one. There’s smart-aleck Amiq, a daring leader—if he doesn’t self destruct; Chickie, blond and freckled, a different kind of outsider; and small quiet Junior, noticing everything and writing it all down. Each has their own story to tell. But once their separate stories come together, things at Sacred Heart School—and in the wider world—will never be the same.

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Quotes & Awards

“[Edwardson’s] beautifully styled prose offers
strong descriptions of an isolated world and a mosaic of identities that must
be sutured back together after being broken off at the root.”

Publishers Weekly

“Heart-wrenching. Edwardson’s skillful use of
dialogue and her descriptions of rural Alaska as well as boarding-school life
invoke a strong sense of empathy and compassion in readers as they experience
Luke’s emotions along with him. It is rare that an author can write about a
controversial subject such as this without prejudice. Edwardson is to be
applauded for her depth of research and her ability to portray all sides of the
equation in a fair and balanced manner while still creating a very enjoyable
read.”

School Library Journal

A 2011 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist

Listener Opinions

Jennifer | 1/1/2014

" Story of Alaskan children growing up. Much to learn here. I enjoyed this mainly because its fictional origins are based in fact. "

Catalina | 12/16/2013

" good. I loved it. so amazing. In some way its like my life. "

Sammyy Malik | 12/12/2013

" This book starts off a little confusing but then you atrt to understand as everything falls into place. this book has the P.O.V of many different characters and thats what you have to keep up with. other than that, this book is REALLY good!! 5+ stars! "

Laura Komos | 11/16/2013

" Fascinating read for those of us who are very familiar with places and the way of life in Alaska! Historical fiction based on real events that occurred in the early 1960s. "

Susan | 11/13/2013

" Very interesting and realistic look at native Alaskan culture and a peek into a little-known part of history. Sending local kids away from their villages for their education reminded me quite a bit of the movie Rabbit-Proof Fence. I liked the use of different narrators, though at times I wanted to explore certain story lines a bit further. And even though the events in the end actually happened, it did feel a bit deus ex machina. Good, not perfect, but definitely worth reading. "

Linda | 11/11/2013

" I enjoyed this book. I think that it realistically showed the experiences of the kids that went through the heart-wrenching experience of being ripped out of their homes to go to school. "

Kandace | 10/9/2013

" I had a problem reading the bad grammar but living up here I know it's accurate. It was interesting reading what happened to native kids, it's sad and I totally related to the mother when she "lost" her son. It's a really easy read and I liked the different perspectives of kids from different communities. If you want a real basic understanding of native communities this is a good start. But I'm sure there's lots more in depth books out there. "

Kelsey | 9/25/2013

" The author spoke at a conference I went to recently, which is why I picked this book up. I read it in a day and it made me cry. I'm sure part of my interest in this book comes from having just gone to Alaska, but I think anyone would find this to be an unusual and interesting book. "

Millie Taylor | 6/16/2013

" My Name is Not Easy is an amazing tale of what went on in Alaska during the 60s. Told from the viewpoints of several children gave you a great insight into how things were for both children and parents. This book made me laugh, cry, and also get angry. It is definitely a book I will read again! "

Erin | 5/4/2013

" Interesting topic that I knew nothing about, historical fiction in a Alaska during the 60s. "

Tammy Ward | 4/6/2013

" I loved the historical fiction aspect of this book and that I learned something new. I didn't care for the varied point of view. I found myself reading just to finish. "

" This National Book Award nominee is a compelling piece of historical fiction. Beautifully and heartfully written. The characters voices are strong and true. Bravo! "

Pam Butcher | 11/14/2012

" Well written tale of Alaskan Native children and survival in a white mans world of the 1960s. This is fiction base on truth, and so very different from my own experience during the same era, set in Anchorage. Insightful and memorable. A good read. "

Ruby | 10/4/2012

" I would give it a 3.5 stars. It was good just not a must read! "

Anne Egbert | 3/31/2012

" This is labeled young adult, but the themes are very adult, just being dealt with by kids. I learned so much about Alaska, atomic bombs, and the trials of native populations. Highly recommended. "

Claudia Haines | 3/27/2012

" This is an excellent book. Edwardson's National Book Award nomination was well-deserved. She includes many facets of Native Alaskan modern history in the novel with creativity and accuracy. Read this novel slowly and let the details percolate. "

About the Author

Debby Dahl Edwardson has lived at the northern most tip of North America in Barrow, Alaska, for over thirty years. She married into the I´nupiaq community and most of what she writes about is set within this culture. It’s not the culture she was born into, but it’s the one she feels she belongs to in every sense of the word. While My Name Is Not Easy is fiction, it was inspired by real stories from a number of boarding schools that once operated throughout Alaska.

About the Narrators

Nick Podehl is a professional voice actor. He has narrated numerous audiobooks, many of which have won prestigious awards, including fourteen AudioFile Earphones Awards. He currently lives and works around Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his wife.

Amy Rubinate has narrated over 250 audiobooks and won multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards. Her books have been selected for AudioFile’s Best Romance of 2016 list; Booklist’s Top 10 Romance, Top 10 Historical Fiction, Editor’s Choice Media; and YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. She has a degree in oral interpretation of literature and won state and national awards for poetry reading. A voice actor and singer for over a decade, Amy has narrated many interactive children’s books and provided character voices for toys and video games. Amy’s work has been featured in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, AudioFile magazine, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal.

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